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What is the University Aviation Association

Flight Training University

The University Aviation Association (UAA) is a combined effort of 115 colleges and universities and is a professional association providing the voice of collegiate aviation to its members, the industry, government and the general public. UAA seeks to advance the interests of degree-granting aviation programs that represent various segments of aviation.

The University Aviation Association states their mission “To promote and foster excellence in collegiate aviation education by providing a forum for students, faculty, staff, and practitioners to share ideas, to enhance the quality of education, and to develop stronger programs and curricula. To influence aviation education policy at all governmental levels. To provide and nurture the linkage between college aviation education, the aviation industry, and government agencies.”

As part of their services the UAA publishes the Collegiate Aviation Review–International which is compilation of papers that are selected from submissions that are subjected to a double blind peer review process. The UAA also provides Independent Program Reviews for collegiate aviation schools to “assess how well an institute implements its own mission, adheres to its internal and external guidelines, and how it will comply with its program requirements. “ The UAA also provides a limited number of scholarships to students.

Collegiate Aviation Conference and Expo

University Aviation Association Logo

The UAA hosts an annual event, the collegiate aviation conference and expo, for “program for participants to meet, network and connects with leading academics, professionals, and suppliers from the collegiate aviation industry. ”

The 2018 expo is taking place September 25 through 28 in Dallas, Texas and includes tours, keynotes speeches, professional paper sessions, and workshops. The 2019 conference is scheduled October 2 through 4 in Memphis, TN.

University Aviation Association Position Statements

Air Carrier Enhanced Pilot Training Program

Flight Training Airplane

The Air Carrier Enhanced Pilot Training Program (ACE) program has been proposed by the Regional Airline Association as an alternative path in to regional airline pilot jobs. ACE seeks to stand alongside existing Restricted Air Transport Pilot Certificate (R-ATP) pathway but provide experience credit for specialized training.

UAA says that the Air Carrier Enhanced Pilot Training Program “is an airline-delivered alternate pathway and contains substantial enhancements that reach a higher level of safety than current flight training pathways. It provides a comprehensive, structured and disciplined training system, with scenario-based and qualitative training enhancements, and offers a meaningful and quantifiable measure of experience for pilot training.”

UAA says that the requirement for professional pilots to accumulate flight experience before going to regional airline has helped their member institutions to retain flight instructors. However, the UAA supports ACE, saying “Competency-based approaches, that measure training success by the achievement of outcomes rather than hours, allow organizations to develop flexible training curricula that target the needs and capabilities of individual learners – improving the effectiveness of instruction.”

The UAS Pilots Code

The Aviators Code Initiative and the University Aviation Association have released guidance aimed at advancing safety and professionalism among Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilots and operators.

The UAS Pilots Code is designed to help UAS pilots develop and implement standard operating procedures, effective risk management, and to consider themselves as part of the broader aviation community.

Greg started his professional pilot journey in 2002 after graduating from Embry Riddle. Since that time he has accumulated over 8,000 hours working as a pilot. Greg’s professional experience includes flight instructing, animal tracking, backcountry flying, forest firefighting, passenger charter, part 135 cargo, flying for a regional airline, a national low cost airline, a legacy airline, and also working as a manager in charge of Part 135 and Part 121 training programs.

Greg Thomson